One year since illegal dismissal at University of Wollongong
25 February 2002
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the illegal dismissal of Dr Ted Steele from the University of Wollongong, on 26 February 2001. The NTEU is still waiting for an effective remedy for the breach of the Enterprise Agreement – reinstatement of Dr Steele.
The anniversary of Dr Steele’s dismissal also coincides with the hearing of the University’s appeal against the Federal Court’s decision of August last year, which found that the dismissal was in breach of the University’s Enterprise Agreement. The Federal Court will hear the appeal on Wednesday 27 February.
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President, commented:
‘Despite the University being the only party found to have done anything wrong, it is Dr Steele who is doing all the suffering. He has been unemployed for a year now – even after the Federal Court clearly found his dismissal was illegal.
‘We are confident that the Federal Court will uphold its earlier decision that Dr Steele was denied the due process to which he was entitled under the Enterprise Agreement.
‘If we are successful, I expect the Council of the University of Wollongong to uphold its public commitment to abide by the terms of its Enterprise Agreement, and to reinstate Dr Steele immediately after the decision is handed down.’
‘Any further vacillation on the part of the University of Wollongong would be morally reprehensible. The University has no right to further prolong the distress of Dr Steele nor leave in doubt the rights of other academics at institutions around the country.’ Dr Allport concluded.
The appeal will be heard at 10am, Wednesday 27 February, at the Federal Court [Sydney].
For further comment please contact:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President
Kim Draisma, Acting President, NTEU University of Wollongong Branch